After Cyberpunk 2077’s tumultuous launch filled with bugs and controversies, the team behind the game found solace in creating the Phantom Liberty expansion and 2.0 facelift. Lead developer Pawel Sasko described the process as a form of “group therapy” for the team, who were still reeling from the negative reception of the base game.
The aftermath of Cyberpunk 2077’s launch was described by Sasko as “absolutely crushing,” especially for team members who were new to CD Projekt Red and had not experienced the success of The Witcher 3. The development team felt the impact of the backlash deeply, with Sasko highlighting the emotional toll it took on the developers.
The release of patches 1.2 and 1.3 was seen as incremental progress in fixing the game, but did little to change public perception. However, update 1.5 marked a significant turning point, with player feedback serving as a form of validation for the team. It was the Edgerunners 1.6 update, launched alongside the Netflix anime series, that truly shifted the narrative around Cyberpunk 2077.
According to Sasko, the release of the Edgerunners update and the positive reception of the accompanying anime provided the team with much-needed motivation. The combination of previous updates and the anime series gave the developers hope that they could salvage the game’s reputation and deliver on their vision.
Celebrating Success
The culmination of the team’s efforts came with the release of Cyberpunk 2077’s 2.0 update and the Phantom Liberty expansion, which was met with overwhelmingly positive reviews on Steam. This achievement was a testament to the team’s resilience and determination to overcome the challenges they faced during the game’s troubled launch.
Cyberpunk 2077’s journey from a disastrous launch to a successful redemption story serves as a reminder of the importance of perseverance and dedication in the face of adversity. The team’s ability to learn from their mistakes, adapt to feedback, and find motivation in external sources ultimately led to the game’s resurgence in popularity. The road to redemption was not easy, but through hard work and a commitment to excellence, Cyberpunk 2077 was able to reclaim its status as a beloved RPG title.
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